actors in my politics

It seems these days that every actor on the stage and in film who has a big enough name and enough money decide that they want to do their civil duty and go into politics. You look around and all you see is one famous person or another from the screen now deciding your future. My questions are, does this concept worry anyone, what makes them qualified to lead us, why can they get in so easily and we cannot, how did and when did actors start making the cross from film to legislature and should we take them seriously? Should fame decide who you vote for? Whatever happened to credentials?
Okay so I have just rambled off a ton of questions but as I observe in class and through life I wonder why people like Brad Pitt have their words taken so seriously when an esteemed scientist is ignored. No it is not like this in every case however the rich and the famous are heard more than those who actually do the work. When I first started look as this I thought of sex appeal? Yeah I know but hear me out on this one. Ok everyone has heard of a poster child right? For this article I will assume that you have. Maybe one reason why political parties use actors to portray their view is sex appeal. Who is our modern pop culture centered society going to pay more attention to? A guy in a business suit or a white jacket with a stack of notes and books or the hot man or woman we follow in the tabloids and watch movies of? To be honest a lot more people prefer the actor. They have the beauty that draws people to them.
Another factor that influences why people listen to actors more than other plain people is that the actor’s lives are continually thrust upon us by films and media. Also because we demand to know about their personal lives, their political views are going to be brought up. If I am say in love with Edward Norton, ‘yes he is pretty cute,’ I would be interested in what he does off the screen as well. If I adore him and have what some call an acting crush I am more likely to listen to what he says. So say he supports a particular political agenda or a cause. I am probably going to take a second look at that agenda, cause, or even party because I take him as a credible source. Often this happens. People may deny it but in many cases this previous statement does have some merit.
Actors may join the political arena for many reasons, either they generally care about issues; they just want more fans and money or both. Some actors like Ronald Reagan, Angelina Jolie and many others really cared about the lives of others. They did and do generally want to help make the world and this country a better place by making their views public and using their fame for the good of those who are less fortunate. Then again there are actors who want more publicity. I will not name names, but there are a few actors who think by joining politics more people will come to watch them on the screen.
Ok so I have spouted out a few names of our modern actors that have joined up in the political game but an actor involving themselves in politics has been going on for a very long time. One of the first well documented campaigns for an actor in the political sphere was Helen Gahagan Douglas. This woman started off on Broadway but then in 1944 was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. One thing that she is most remembered for is giving Richard Nixon his nick name tricky dick. Another actor that joined the game was Charlton Heston. He was known for being involved in civil rights and the NRA. He gave the NRA a face to put on the posters. People saw his face next to the slogan and knew what he stood for. Another famous household name is Sony Bono. He was an elected republican official. Then there was Arnold Schwarzenegger, we all know his history in the movies and now he is the governor of California. Side not he is much better than the last governor. However why do we take his word over others. I think that his fame is one of the things that made it easier for him to come into politics.
Alright so there are a lot of actors and singers in our politics. What makes them qualified to lead us? And why is their views more important or paid more attention to than other who knows more? I honestly do not have answers for either of these questions. No it is not true all the time however what makes an actor so special that they can lead me or my sate. For example the governator, really? Does he have any training in politics, economics, world social issues, military experience, and social reforms? How can he connect or know what his voters want? He probable does not hang out with everyday people. He is part of an elite class. Like many other actors who were or are in office I feel that they are not really qualified or have enough experience in our system to make informed decisions. But then again half of our current politicians no matter what party they are a part of have no idea about half of the stuff I have mentioned.
Ok so what about all those actors who use their fame to endorse an issue or a political side. My personal opinion that unless it is for a humanitarian cause, don’t do it. You’re an actor I do not care if you are a dem or a rep or a comm, really shut up. I think that it is low and just dumb to include actors in political rings. I don’t want to hear Pairs Hiltons views on anything. I want to hear someone who has a degree. Maybe I am one of few that do but one example of this that will most likely get a lot of comments is Al Gore. I was mad that he got a Nobel Peace Prize. Yeah good cause but he does not even really abide by the system he wants to enforce. He did not do any scientific data or go out in the field. No he put together a power point that came from the data of others work. That is what made me mad. He is not a credible source the guys behind the work should of gotten the prize not him. Yet no one really knows of any scientist who worked or works on global warming analysis. Nope we just know the politicians and actors who have big mouths.
This last section I am writing is my personal views on what should decide political involvement in the higher level aka elected office. If an actor wants to get in on this ok whatever but I believe that every politician should have a well versed background in economics, world history, our own cultures history. They should know why different groups of people disagree and have knowledge about different religions, and how they feel about one another. Being a speech major I would like to see politicians be skilled in the art of giving speeches and not reading off of teleprompters. They should have a good deal of knowledge of military tactics. Manly because if I were in the military I would not want someone who knew nothing of it to lead me or be my commander and chief. Yes these people should have a knowledge of world trade and how it works, they should know about many different cultures so they don’t make too many blunder in other countries. Most of all I feel that actors are more pre-determined to be affected by public opinion rather than standing by what they believe in. that I do not want. I may not agree with a president or an elected official but I respect anyone who stands by their beliefs and does not let the masses tell them what to do.
Alright so I have ranted enough for one day but as you can see I feel that as a country we need to take a closer look at why our rich and famous decide to join politics. Even so should they be able to lead us? Yes it is a free country but as citizens of this free country we also have a responsibility to one another. I encourage everyone not to vote for a actor unless they have the qualifications needed to lead a group of people. Then again that goes for every political player. Actors are just an extreme truth to the fact that not all of our elected officials are qualified to lead. My list earlier should apply to everyone. The most qualified and educated should be leading us, not the most popular or powerful or rich or famous. I know I would feel much safer in my everyday life if I knew that the people who were in office knew more than I did on a subject or a field. So perhaps we should demand that from our leader. A man or woman who has these qualifications is far more likely to win my vote than a pretty face I have seen in the movies.